Nissan fuel cell electric vehicles make use of technologies that have been developed in Nissan over the years, such as lithium-ion batteries and high voltage electric systems for electric vehicles, control technologies for hybrid vehicles, and high pressure gas storage systems for compressed natural gas vehicles.
Our aim is to develop a practical fuel cell vehicle with superior environmental and energy-saving performance, while preserving ease of use. In 2005, we achieved driving ranges and acceleration on a par with gasoline models with the X-Trail FCEV. Nissan is actively involved in the development of such vehicles, and has been leasing FCEVs on a limited basis in Japan.
In the early 2010s, we are planning to launch a next-generation FCEV with an improved Nissan fuel-cell stack in North America and Japan.
X-Trail FCEV
- *Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV): A vehicle whose power source is electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen
The History of Nissan's Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Development
Earnest development of FCEVs is still in its infancy; even on a worldwide basis, the technology is less than two decades old. Nissan's initial foray into the full-scale development of FCEV technology came in 2001 with an investment in a five-year, ¥85 billion joint development project with our Alliance partner Renault.
| 1996 | Nissan begins developing FCEV technology. | |
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| May 1999 | Vehicle testing begins. Nissan test drives the R'nessa, an FCEV equipped with a methanol reforming fuel cell. |
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| March 2000 | Nissan participates in the California Fuel-Cell Partnership (CaFCP). |
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| April 2001 | Public road testing begins in North America. Nissan begins a five-year, ¥85 billion joint development project with Renault. Road tests are conducted on the Xterra FCEV in Sacramento, California. |
 High-pressure hydrogen-powered Xterra FCEV |
| December 2002 | Nissan begins road testing the Xterra FCEV in Japan. Road testing of the high-pressure hydrogen-powered X-Trail FCEV begins in Japan after approval is received from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. |
 High-pressure hydrogen-powered 2002 X-Trail FCEV |
| December 2003 | A limited number of X-Trail FCEV 03s are made available for lease. FCEV 03s are delivered to Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., in March 2004, and to the Kanagawa prefectural government and the Yokohama city government in April 2004. |  High-pressure hydrogen-powered 2003 X-Trail FCEV |
| December 2005 | Nissan unveils the 2005 X-Trail FCEV equipped with the company's newly developed fuel-cell stack. Nissan develops an X-Trail FCEV with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. |
 High-pressure hydrogen-powered 2005 X-Trail FCEV |
| February 2006 | Road testing begins in Canada. Test runs are initiated on an X-Trail FCEV equipped with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. |
 2005 X-Trail FCEV equipped with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder |
| August 2008 | Nissan announces the development of a next-generation fuel-cell stack with double the power density of conventional technology. |  Nissan's next-generation fuel-cell stack |
Nissan pioneers fuel-cell limo
In February 2007, we delivered the latest X-Trail FCEV to Kanagawa Toshi Kotsu Ltd. for use in their chauffer-driven hired-car fleet. This was the first time fuel cell electric vehicles were made available for hired-car services anywhere in the world.
X-Trail FCEV used as a hired car
